Project Based Learning: Community HelpersEllene Hartounian
Age Group and Subject This project is aimed towards 4th grade
students and focuses on the subject of English Language Arts with elements of Social Studies
Project Overview: Part 1 Students will research specific issues in the community (social,
environmental, educational, etc.) From their initial research, they will pick an issue that they find
particularly interesting, and produce a driving question related to this topic
Students will form small groups based on similarities among chosen issues
Project Overview: Part 2 In these groups, students will produce possible
solutions to combat the community issue They will do research, including but not limited to:
historical context, interviews with individuals in the community such as parents/teachers/other community workers
When students have collected all their data, they will peer review and provide feedback on data collected by other groups
Final product should be a paper including all data (interviews, photos, etc.), and a poster presenting the community issue and solution. Students will give a presentation in front of the class presenting what they have learned
How does this relate to ELA/Social Studies? ELA:
Shows students how to produce a piece of writing that includes data, interviews, opinions, and reflections. They essentially learn how to create a simple research paper.
Teaches students to write for a specific audience.
Social Studies: Encourages students to come up with solutions to real
world problems. Lets students research the history (local or at a larger
level) behind a specific issue.
My Job as the Teacher Assist students in the brainstorming process Provide a list of local community organizations that students
can communicate with Assign small groups Do my best to get parents involved. Send home a flyer at the
beginning of this assignment so that parents are aware of the project and can assist their kids
Reflection/Assessment At the end of the project, students will write a reflection
paper, including the following: How they feel like they helped their community What they specifically contributed to the group project What they were most proud of What they could have done differently How the group worked together as a whole
Why? 1. Promotes awareness regarding community
issues 2. Gives students a chance to come up with
their own solutions to help solve these issues; thus providing a real world application of information learned in class
3. Teaches students that they can make a difference and their voices can be heard. It is possible for even a young learner to come up with a realistic solution to a community issue and to do their part to help!
Elements of PBL: 21st Century Skills Collaboration: Students will get into small groups
based on similarities in community issues. They will complete the entire project in these small groups
Use of Technology: Students will have to make use of technological tools in order to record, take photos, print, or scan data collected.
Critical Thinking: Students have to be creative and think about a problem they see in their community. They must come up with an original solution to this problem
Communication: Students must communicate with individuals in the community involved in the particular issue they have chosen to research
Elements of PBL: Sustained Inquiry Students will have to come up with a “driving
question” through research and critical thinking. They will then have to find relevant resources, collect useful information, and then apply that information to their project in a logical manner
Elements of PBL: Voice and Choice Students are free to choose their own
community issue. This allows them to be autonomous in their project and to research an issue they are interested in or feel passionate about. These factors all contribute to an increase in motivation.
Elements of PBL: Critique/Revision Allowing students to revise and provide
feedback regarding other groups’ work prepares the children to respond appropriately to constructive criticism and praise
References Larmer J., Mergendoller, J. (2010). Seven
Essentials for Project-Based Learning. Retrieved from: http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational_leadership/sept10/vol68/num01/Seven_Essentials_for_Project-Based_Learning.aspx